Faculté des Lettres et des Langues

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Browsing Faculté des Lettres et des Langues by Author "Abdelli Fatima"

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    Harold Pinter, Edward Albee and LeRoi Jones: Their Ideas of the Absurd
    (Mouloud MAMMERI University of Tizi-Ouzou, 2009-03) Abdelli Fatima
    This present research paper has explored the Theatre of the Absurd in two communities as represented by three dramatists, Harold Pinter from England and Edward Albee and LeRoi Jones from the United States of America. What is sought is the analysis of the absurdist aspects of their plays and their worlds. My dissertation fell into four-chapters. In the first chapter, I have singled out the principal aspects of the philosophy of the Absurd and the Theatre of the Absurd. The emphasis was put on the aspects that are applicable on the plays under study: Pinter‟s The Caretaker, Albee‟s The Zoo Story and Jones‟s Dutchman. In the second chapter, I have focused in particular on the study of the main themes, characters, as well as language in Pinter‟s The Caretaker. His message, which consists in showing the absurdity of his characters‟ existence, is transmitted through different techniques. I have followed the same method in the third chapter, where I have studied Albee‟s The Zoo Story. Albee‟s aim is to convince people that our indifference and alienation results in the fact that our behaviour is analogous to that of animals inside a zoo. The last chapter of this simple work is devoted to the analysis of Jones‟s Dutchman. The latter exposes the absurd behaviour and revolt of a black American in front of his oppressor. His confrontation to his condition results in his death. Consequently, the main character represents any oppressed man on earth, and so his death is a sacrifice meant to motivate his fellowmen. The four chapters are followed by a general conclusion that summarizes the universal or international aspects of the philosophy and the Theatre of the Absurd explored in the three plays. I concluded by saying that although Pinter, Albee, and Baraka represent two or three different communities, their works show similar situations of real characters who behave in an absurd way. Finally, I closed by saying that the three dramatists share universal themes and characters in their drama, and that these characters are just samples that can exist in any society in the world.